The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– A Patriarch Lacking Presence

‘Just as I thought, it’s Grandfather!’

On the road back to the Messiah family estate,

a rosy hue returned to Asia’s face.

It was because she had learned the truth about the engagement from Arthas.

‘A false engagement, is it… Grandfather certainly has amusing ideas.’

Asia wore such a smile.

That smile vanished in an instant.

‘Haa… Just where could he be? And what is this talk of five years?’

Asia had not managed to glean Grandfather’s location from Arthas.

Only that he was certainly somewhere in the East.

And that he would return after five years.

‘Still… that damned First Prince!!!’

That false rumors about her and the First Prince had spread even to the East.

Then it was certain that they were widespread not only in the Central region, but also in the West and North.

Asia’s teeth chattered just thinking about it.

Taking a deep breath, Asia calmed her anger.

‘…For now, shall I do as Grandfather intends?’

Asia glanced sideways at Arthas’s face.

Black hair and black eyes.

And a handsome face.

His appearance could only be that of someone born into nobility.

‘Hmph, he is quite handsome.’

That such a being was her fiancé.

Asia’s shoulders lifted slightly.

But immediately Asia shook her head, denying these thoughts.

‘What am I, some noble young lady from the Central region? To be pleased just because he’s handsome?’

The noble young ladies that Asia had seen.

Without exception, they would squeal and choose a spouse based on looks.

Asia viewed such behavior negatively.

Of course, a handsome appearance was preferable, but there were more important conditions.

‘Being handsome isn’t everything. He could be unfaithful!’

A husband, first and foremost, had to be strong like Grandfather…

‘Ah?’

Asia realized.

Her esteemed grandfather, the Sword Saint.

Arthas, her grandfather’s disciple, meant he was a student of the Sword Saint.

In other words, incredibly strong.

Indeed, Arthas was as strong as Asia had witnessed.

Asia suddenly recalled a conversation she had with the Retid Commander back at the barony.

‘Strong, kind, and… if possible, handsome.’

Arthas already fulfilled two out of the three conditions she had set.

Strong, and handsome.

Still, thankfully, there was one thing he certainly wasn’t.

‘Right, he definitely can’t be kind!’

If he were kind, he would have merely subdued, not slaughtered, his enemies.

He wouldn’t have annihilated them like that.

‘Right, I almost forgot. That man…’

A man who maintained his composure even after killing countless people.

There was no way someone like that could be a good person.

‘Well, it’s not like it’s a real engagement anyway, just a pretend one.’

Thinking that way, the conditions didn’t matter.

After all, they would part ways in five years.

Even so…

‘If he came all the way to the restaurant to help me, maybe he’s a little kind.’

Asia decided to believe that Arthas wasn’t all bad.

*

The Pure Silver Knights were friendly towards me.

I thought they held no ill will.

But…

“Ahem, please keep your distance from Lady Asia.”

“Indeed. You haven’t even had the engagement ceremony yet, have you?”

They kept trying to widen the distance between Asia and me.

Of course, I understood their feelings.

Asia was sixteen.

A beautiful face, but still a youthful one.

Her physical development wasn’t quite complete.

‘Not quite a child, but still, a girl who hasn’t had her coming-of-age ceremony yet.’

Judging by their attitude, Asia was a respected young lady and beloved little sister to them.

Even if their sister’s boyfriend seemed capable, they would still want him to keep a respectful distance in front of them.

So, I decided to reassure them.

Besides, I had no intention of doing anything with a woman who hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony.

‘And if I did, the old man might actually kill me.’

“Haha, fret not. I harbor absolutely no intention of laying a hand on an Asian young lady.”

Yet, the knights’ reaction was peculiar.

As if my conjecture was quite wrong.

“It’s not that… um… it’s nothing. You’ll understand on your own later, in any case.”

“Pardon?”

“First, let me just say, absolutely do not lay a hand on the Asian miss.”

“Ah… yes.”

Could there be another reason for this?

.

.

.

Another reason.

There was.

There was a reason the knights reacted in such a way.

Perhaps it wasn’t that they thought of Asia as a younger sister.

Rather, it was words meant for my own sake.

Worrying about the situation at hand.

“…You’re the Asian fiancé your father chose?”

Count Andrew Messiah, head of the Messiah family.

I had heard no rumors of Count Messiah.

Rumors there were aplenty, yes, but only of the Sword Saint, or how beautiful the Sword Saint’s granddaughter was.

Not a single rumor mentioned Count Messiah.

‘And so, I was mistaken.’

I had perhaps thought Count Messiah was a man without presence.

That was why no rumors arose at all.

But the Count Messiah standing before me now…

“Why are you so slow to answer? I shall ask again, are you the Asian fiancé your father chose?”

A muscular body, a face scarred and battered.

He resembled a brigand far more than a nobleman.

The only thing he shared with Asia was his near-white silver hair.

“Y-yes, I am!”

Overwhelmed by his pressure, I stuttered without realizing.

This, it seemed, was the aura of a father-in-law welcoming his son-in-law.

The aura of a daughter-obsessed father that could make even the strong falter.

“Strange… Father would never bring in Asia’s fiancé… Just what is your true nature?”

“If you ask about my true nature… I did learn swordsmanship from the Sword Saint.”

*Thwack!*

Count Messiah frowned, suddenly slamming his fist on the desk.

“Has Father divulged the Messiah family’s secret techniques to an outsider?!”

“No, sir! I learned swordsmanship, but not the family’s secret techniques or anything like that!”

Messiah, the Count, regarded me with suspicion.

“Is that so, truly?”

“It is, truly.”

Thankfully, he believed my words.

The Count’s intense demeanor seemed to lessen somewhat.

“Even so, a fiancé… I find it difficult to believe, frankly.”

“Well, that’s…”

Only Messiah, the Count, and I occupied the space.

I could speak frankly to him, as I did with Asia.

“Let me explain the circumstances!”

“Circumstances…? Don’t even think about telling me this engagement has ulterior motives.”

“Huh? Why would that be…?”

Wouldn’t having a motive be a good thing?

A false engagement to avoid the First Prince.

Even the old man thought it was a good idea.

“Hmm… for example, an ulterior motive…”

The Count considered it for a moment.

Then, as if he’d organized his thoughts, he spoke.

“If this engagement is, perchance, a ruse prompted by the rumors circulating, I won’t forgive it.”

“Pardon?”

Had he heard it from Asia herself?

It was the truth.

But why wouldn’t he forgive it?

This false engagement wasn’t a boon for Asia as well?

Anything was better than marrying that scoundrel.

“If it’s a false engagement, you’ll have to break it off someday. If you’re thinking of making my daughter a young lady who’s been jilted, or who has done the jilting…”

The Count’s intense gaze bore into me.

“I will kill you and hold your father accountable as well.”

“…”

I was doomed.

Perhaps I had been thinking a bit too simplistically.

A noble lady being jilted.

That was never good news.

It was natural for a father to object.

“So, what are the circumstances?”

This was difficult.

Frankly, what the Count inferred was the truth.

‘What, what should I say?’

My mind spun at an incredible pace.

And after thinking so hard my head felt hot, the words that escaped my lips were…

“The rumors of Lady Asia reached even my ears, and so I begged the Sword Saint to arrange our betrothal!!!”

“Hmm…? That sounds rather like a fabrication.”

“N-no, it’s the truth!!!”

Just another tale of pulling strings to secure a match.

“I don’t much care for that.”

“A-hahaha… I apologize.”

“And that my father would condone such a thing is equally peculiar.”

“Uh… the truth is….”

“Still, better than a fabricated betrothal.”

Count Messiah rose from his seat and approached me.

“Hmm, what do you think should be done?”

“Pardon?”

“What choice do you believe I should make, is what I am asking.”

A giant of a man stood before me.

Was this how Zhang Fei must have appeared at Changban Bridge?

But idle musings were less important than an answer.

“…I sincerely wish to be betrothed to Lady Asia.”

Now, I couldn’t possibly claim all that I had said thus far was a lie.

Having already committed to this, only one option remained.

‘Coordinate with Asia, and abscond after five years.’

That was the only way out for me.

“That isn’t what I’m asking.”

Indeed, what choice should he make?

Should I boldly implore him to grant the betrothal?

I could not.

Under this pressure, it was obvious.

The man before me was not one to simply grant a betrothal upon request.

“Grant me the opportunity to court Lady Asia and earn her hand in marriage.”

An opportunity.

Well, for a father who valued his daughter’s feelings, such words might be poison.

But the being before me, while he might respect his daughter’s choice, was the type to reject any man, even one she loved.

Therefore, an opportunity.

I requested an opportunity.

And it seemed this was the correct answer.

For Count Messiah was now smiling.